Residents of Toco and environs are looking forward to the construction and completion of the Toco Public Library, which has been on the cards of years. This was the general consensus shared at the public consultation held by the National Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS) in conjunction with the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) for the Toco Public Library Project at the Toco Regional Complex, on March 19, 2025.

The public consultation was initiated by the Honourable Roger Monroe, Member of Parliament for Toco/Sangre Grande, and the Honourable Symon de Nobriga, NALIS' line minister, both of whom felt it important to gather community feedback, ensure local needs are met and promote public engagement in decision-making.

MP Monroe; Neil Parsanlal, Chairman of the Board of NALIS; Beverly Williams, Executive Director (Ag.) NALIS, and Stephan Homer, Architect from Chase Engineering Limited addressed the residents. The programme was ably chaired by cricket commentator, Stacy-Ann King, 2016 ICC West Indies Women's T20 World Cup winning squad who shared her fond memories of her life in Toco.

Homer detailed the concept for the multi-functional space which will serve a wide range of community needs, with designated areas for children, young adults, adults and seniors as well as spaces for performances and entrepreneurship. NALIS' ED (Ag) said that the library will be more than a place for books, it will be a technology hub and abuzz with activities for persons of all ages and apart from being aesthetically pleasing, the Toco Public Library building will feature environmental designs in keeping with the lush surroundings as project managers, MTS, the architect and NALIS are cognisant of the effects of global warming and the threat of climate change. She added, “In keeping with Vision 2030 of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’s (GoRTT) mandate: “Placing the Environment at the Centre of Social and Economic Development”, the library’s design prioritises the use of natural materials, natural light and ventilation.”

MP Monroe and the project managers assures that local tradesmen will be hired on the construction of the library and Parsanlal said as is customary, NALIS will seek to hire appropriately qualified residents in the area and environs to work in the library when it is completed.